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Towards optimal aerodynamic design of wind catchers: Impact of geometrical characteristics

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  • Alsailani, M.
  • Montazeri, H.
  • Rezaeiha, A.

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed parametric analysis of the impact of geometrical characteristics of wind catchers on their flow features to enhance the effectiveness of cross-ventilation strategies of buildings. The following geometrical characteristics are evaluated in detail: (i) ceiling tilt angle, (ii) radius of the outer-corner bend, (iii) leeward-side tilt angle, (iv) straight inlet extension length, (v) nozzle-shaped inlet extension radius, and (vi) radius of the inner-corner bend. In addition, the impact of using guide vanes in the bend of wind catchers is systematically investigated. High-resolution coupled (outdoor wind flow and indoor airflow) 3D steady RANS CFD simulations are performed for 40 different wind catcher geometries. The CFD simulations are based on a grid-sensitivity analysis and are validated by comparing with two wind-tunnel measurements. The results show that the use of straight and nozzle-shaped inlet extensions can significantly increase the airflow rate. The maximum increase is about 23%, which is achieved for the straight inlet extension length S/D = 1 (D is wind-catcher depth). Guide vanes are also found to effectively improve the flow uniformity inside wind catchers and significantly enhance the airflow rate. This enhancement can go up to 29% when guide vanes are implemented in combination with a straight inlet extension with S/D = 0.375. The results of the present study support the optimal aerodynamic design of wind catchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Alsailani, M. & Montazeri, H. & Rezaeiha, A., 2021. "Towards optimal aerodynamic design of wind catchers: Impact of geometrical characteristics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 1344-1363.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:168:y:2021:i:c:p:1344-1363
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.053
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    2. Kaseb, Z. & Montazeri, H., 2022. "Data-driven optimization of building-integrated ducted openings for wind energy harvesting: Sensitivity analysis of metamodels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Kuang, Limin & Su, Jie & Chen, Yaoran & Han, Zhaolong & Zhou, Dai & Zhang, Kai & Zhao, Yongsheng & Bao, Yan, 2022. "Wind-capture-accelerate device for performance improvement of vertical-axis wind turbines: External diffuser system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    4. Juan, Yu-Hsuan & Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert & Wen, Chih-Yung & Yang, An-Shik, 2022. "CFD assessment of wind energy potential for generic high-rise buildings in close proximity: Impact of building arrangement and height," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    5. Ashraf Balabel & Mamdooh Alwetaishi & Wageeh A. El-Askary & Hamza Fawzy, 2021. "Numerical Study on Natural Ventilation Characteristics of a Partial-Cylinder Opening for One-Sided-Windcatcher of Variable Air-Feeding Orientations in Taif, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.

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